Grammatical Expectations in Mr. van den Broek’s English class… and in life! Sentence Fragments, Run-On Sentences, and Comma Splices… oh my!

Sentence Fragments A sentence is one complete thought.

Sentence Fragments A sentence is one complete thought. Each sentence must have a subject and a predicate – that is to say, an “actor” and an “action.”

Sentence Fragments A sentence is one complete thought. Each sentence must have a subject and a predicate – that is to say, an “actor” and an “action.” A sentence fragment is a grammatical error where a sentence is missing either a subject or a full predicate.

Sentence Fragments But first... a wee exception:

Sentence Fragments But first... a wee exception: Imperatives: Orders or polite requests that end in exclamation marks or a period where the subject is usually implied.

Sentence Fragments But first... a wee exception: Imperatives: Orders or polite requests that end in exclamation marks or a period where the subject is usually implied. Stop! Don’t do it!

Sentence Fragments But first… a wee exception: Imperatives: Orders or polite requests that end in exclamation marks or a period where the subject is usually implied. Stop! Don’t do it! Please help your father. Whistle for the dog.

Sentence Fragments Examples of Sentence Fragments: I ran to the.

Sentence Fragments Examples of Sentence Fragments: I ran to the. (missing location)

Sentence Fragments Examples of Sentence Fragments: I ran to the. (missing location) Sam running into town.

Sentence Fragments Examples of Sentence Fragments: I ran to the. (missing location) Sam running into town. (missing auxiliary verb)

Sentence Fragments Examples of Sentence Fragments: I ran to the. (missing location) Sam running into town. (missing auxiliary verb) And is a brilliant opera singer.

Sentence Fragments Examples of Sentence Fragments: I ran to the. (missing location) Sam running into town. (missing auxiliary verb) And is a brilliant opera singer. (missing subject)

Sentence Fragments Examples of Sentence Fragments: I ran to the. (missing location) Sam running into town. (missing auxiliary verb) And is a brilliant opera singer. (missing subject) Because they were hungry.

Sentence Fragments Examples of Sentence Fragments: I ran to the. (missing location) Sam running into town. (missing auxiliary verb) And is a brilliant opera singer. (missing subject) Because they were hungry. (missing main clause)

Sentence Fragments Even if a sentence is long with a lot of information, it may still be a sentence fragment. Example: After her father helped her so much last week and she improved with each passing game.

Sentence Fragments After her father helped her so much last week and she improved with each passing game.

Sentence Fragments After her father helped her so much last week and she improved with each passing game. There are two subject-verb relationships.

Sentence Fragments After her father helped her so much last week and she improved with each passing game. There are two subject-verb relationships. However, the entire “sentence” is dependant on the word “After.” What happens after? The “sentence” does not provide that essential information.

Sentence Fragments After her father helped her so much last week and she improved with each passing game. (Sentence Fragment) After her father helped her so much last week and she improved with each passing game, her team ended up winning the playoffs. (Correct Sentence)

Grammatical Expectations in Mr. van den Broek’s English class… and in life!

Run-On Sentence A run-on sentence is when two or more complete thoughts are joined together without the correct punctuation. Example: Tomorrow is my brother’s birthday I will surprise him by flying home unexpectedly. Correction:

Run-On Sentence A run-on sentence is when two or more complete thoughts are joined together without the correct punctuation. Example: Tomorrow is my brother’s birthday I will surprise him by flying home unexpectedly. Correction: Tomorrow is my brother’s birthday. I will surprise him by flying home unexpectedly. (period and new sentence)

Run-On Sentence A run-on sentence is when two or more complete thoughts are joined together without the correct punctuation. Example: Tomorrow is my brother’s birthday I will surprise him by flying home unexpectedly. Correction: Tomorrow is my brother’s birthday. I will surprise him by flying home unexpectedly. (period and new sentence) Tomorrow is my brother’s birthday and I will surprise him by flying home unexpectedly. (add an appropriate conjunction)

Run-On Sentence A run-on sentence is when two or more complete thoughts are joined together without the correct punctuation. Example: Tomorrow is my brother’s birthday I will surprise him by flying home unexpectedly. Correction: Tomorrow is my brother’s birthday. I will surprise him by flying home unexpectedly. (period and new sentence) Tomorrow is my brother’s birthday and I will surprise him by flying home unexpectedly. (add an appropriate conjunction) Tomorrow is my brother’s birthday; I will surprise him by flying home unexpectedly. (employ a semicolon)

Comma Splice (a form of Run-On Sentence) A comma splice occurs when two complete thoughts are separated by a comma instead of one of the four correct methods: period, semicolon, colon, or comma with a conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).

Comma Splice (a form of Run-On Sentence) A comma splice occurs when two complete thoughts are separated by a comma instead of one of the four correct methods: period, semicolon, colon, or comma with a conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). So, do not connect two complete thoughts with only a comma.

Comma Splice (a form of Run-On Sentence) A comma splice occurs when two complete thoughts are separated by a comma instead of one of the four correct methods: period, semicolon, colon, or comma with a conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). So, do not connect two complete thoughts with only a comma. E.g., I had a headache, I took an aspirin. (comma splice)

Comma Splice (a form of Run-On Sentence) A comma splice occurs when two complete thoughts are separated by a comma instead of one of the four correct methods: period, semicolon, colon, or comma with a conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). So, do not connect two complete thoughts with only a comma. E.g., I had a headache, I took an aspirin. (comma splice) I had a headache, so I took an aspirin. (corrected)

Comma Splice (a form of Run-On Sentence) Write down the following three sentences into your notebooks. Alter each so that the run-on sentence is corrected. I like hotdogs, Becky likes hamburgers. It is nearly half past five, we cannot reach town before dark. They believe in Odysseus, he is their king.

Comma Splice (a form of Run-On Sentence) Write down the following three sentences into your notebooks. Alter each so that the run-on sentence is corrected. I like hotdogs, Becky likes hamburgers. I like hotdogs, but Becky likes hamburgers. It is nearly half past five, we cannot reach town before dark. They believe in Odysseus, he is their king.

Comma Splice (a form of Run-On Sentence) Write down the following three sentences into your notebooks. Alter each so that the run-on sentence is corrected. I like hotdogs, Becky likes hamburgers. I like hotdogs, but Becky likes hamburgers. I like hotdogs, and Becky likes hamburgers. It is nearly half past five, we cannot reach town before dark. They believe in Odysseus, he is their king.

Comma Splice (a form of Run-On Sentence) Write down the following three sentences into your notebooks. Alter each so that the run-on sentence is corrected. I like hotdogs, Becky likes hamburgers. I like hotdogs, but Becky likes hamburgers. I like hotdogs, and Becky likes hamburgers. I like hotdogs, yet Becky likes hamburgers. It is nearly half past five, we cannot reach town before dark. They believe in Odysseus, he is their king.

Comma Splice (a form of Run-On Sentence) Write down the following three sentences into your notebooks. Alter each so that the run-on sentence is corrected. I like hotdogs, Becky likes hamburgers. I like hotdogs, but Becky likes hamburgers. I like hotdogs, and Becky likes hamburgers. I like hotdogs, yet Becky likes hamburgers. It is nearly half past five, we cannot reach town before dark. It is nearly half past five; we cannot reach town before dark. They believe in Odysseus, he is their king.

Comma Splice (a form of Run-On Sentence) Write down the following three sentences into your notebooks. Alter each so that the run-on sentence is corrected. I like hotdogs, Becky likes hamburgers. I like hotdogs, but Becky likes hamburgers. I like hotdogs, and Becky likes hamburgers. I like hotdogs, yet Becky likes hamburgers. It is nearly half past five, we cannot reach town before dark. It is nearly half past five; we cannot reach town before dark. They believe in Odysseus, he is their king. They believe in Odysseus, for he is their king.

Grammar Scratcher Place the word “only” anywhere in the sentence to the right as see how many ways the meaning can change.

Grammar Quiz Tomorrow you will be treated to a quiz covering everything that you’ve learned and practiced regarding Sentence Fragments, Run-On Sentences, and Comma Splices. “May the odds forever be in your favour.”